Alabama Football: Replacements for Every Drafted Tider

Al Bello/Getty ImagesDee Milliner's selection marks the third former Alabama DB taken in the first round in the last two years.

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The 2013 NFL draft is another platform that will showcase the dominance of the football program Nick Saban has built at Alabama.

Several former Tiders are expected to find new homes at the professional level by week’s end, but which players on the 2013 Alabama squad are expected to fill the shoes of their accomplished former teammates?

Find out about some of the new faces that will have large roles in Tuscaloosa this fall in this breakdown focusing on every replacement for each former Tide star picked in this year’s NFL draft.

*This list will be updated as Tide players are selected in the 2013 NFL draft.

Dee Milliner

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The New York Jets ignored the recent chatter about Milliner’s surgically repaired shoulder and selected the All-American corner with the ninth pick of the first round.

Milliner’s departure leaves a sizeable void in the Tide’s secondary, mainly because there doesn’t appear to be a dominant understudy waiting in the wings like Milliner—who took over for Dre Kirkpatrick last season.

Seniors John Fulton and Deion Belue are projected to be the Tide’s top two corners entering the season, with sophomore Geno Smith pushing both of them to earn a starting role.

Smith has the most upside of the trio, but none of them appear capable of locking down one side of the field as Milliner was able to do in 2012.

Chance Warmack

Heading into Thursday’s first round of the draft, Warmack and North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper were in a dead heat for the right to be called the top guard prospect in the 2013 class.

Both turned out to be worthy of being top-10 picks, with Cooper going seventh overall to the Arizona Cardinals.

Warmack—regarded as one the safest picks in this class—was selected by the Titans with the 10th pick.

Junior Arie Kouandjio appears to have the inside track on replacing Warmack at left guard. Kouandjio—whose younger brother Cyrus is the Tide’s starter at left tackle—has battled injuries throughout his career, but he finally looks to be healthy and ready to take over a starting role this fall.

Kouandjio gives the Tide an athletic lineman with similar size (6'5", 315 pounds) to Warmack to plug in at his old position.

Nico Johnson

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After a solid career at the Capstone, Nico Johnson put together a resume good enough for the Kansas City Chiefs to call his name in the fourth round of this year’s draft.

Johnson split time as a co-starter at each of the Tide’s two inside linebacker positions. Junior Trey DePriest will be the main man at the Mike spot, while standout senior C.J. Mosley takes over the Will position full-time.

The fact that Mosley led the Tide in tackles as a part-time starter speaks volumes as to the depth Alabama has enjoyed at linebacker in recent years.

While Johnson’s leadership will be missed, don’t expect the Tide to miss a beat on the middle level of its defense this season.

Barrett Jones

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With their selection of Barrett Jones in the fourth round, the St. Louis Rams acquired one of the most storied offensive linemen in Alabama’s storied history.

While it’s impossible to replace what Jones brought to the table as a student-athlete, sophomore Ryan Kelly has looked impressive as a reserve (named to the SEC’s 2012 All-Freshman team) and throughout spring practice.

Kelly’s play is big reason why Saban feels good about the prospects of his offensive line developing into a quality unit despite the heavy attrition (h/t Don Kausler Jr., AL.com).

Quinton Dial

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Dial was a valuable backup defensive end that spelled starters Square and Ed Stinson over much of the last two seasons. His versatility as a utility lineman helped him get selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round.

Redshirt freshman Dalvin Tomlinson and sophomore LaMichael Fanning are a pair of young defensive ends with significant potential.

Tomlinson, in particular, provides a different, but intriguing option. His size (6’2”, 287) isn’t overwhelming, but his quickness helps him as a pass-rusher and in pursuit (h/t, Don Kausler, Jr. AL.com).

Michael Williams

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Even though the dependable Williams didn’t earn an invitation to the combine, his performance during the week of the Senior Bowl helped him come of the board in the seventh round when the Detroit Lions selected him.

Junior Brian Vogler is a 6’7”, 260-pound force giving the Tide a physical blocker in the run game similar to the role Williams excelled in.

But as his four receptions in the A-Day game showed, Vogler is a capable target for McCarron in the flats or in the middle of the field.